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Chairman of the BVI Ports Authority Board J. Edward DeCasro told the Public Accounts Committee that $1.7 Million was paid to a company called Tortola Pier Partners (TPP) for drawings for the expansion of the Ports Development Project. He said the work has been incomplete however payments on the contract were made. Photo: VINO/File

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - While testifying before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the controversial Ports Development Project Chairman of the BVI Ports Authority Board Mr. J. Edward DeCastro confirmed that Tortola Pier Partners (TPP) had been paid some $1.7 Million of Ports Authority funds.

The Chairman of the PAC and Leader of the Opposition Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE stated that based on what he had heard there seemed to have been a lot of mystery surrounding TPP and asked Mr. DeCastro, if he knew of any BVIslanders who had been involved with TPP.

In response, the Chairman of the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) Board stated that he did not know of any BVIslanders who are involved with the TPP. However, in another report released some months ago to some media houses the Virgin Islands’ Auditor General Ms. Sonia M. Webster reported that the local partners for TPP had they gotten the Ports Devolvement Project would have been the BVI Investment Club.

When asked by Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) if the TPP had ever met the Ports Board, Mr. DeCastro confirmed that the TPP had met with the Board. When further pressed by Hon. Fahie about who came to the Ports Board meeting for TPP Mr. DeCastro named a Mr. Todd Malphrus and a Mr. Jay Cashman.

However, the Board Chairman said he would have to go back to his notes to remember the others who attended the meeting on behalf of TPP.

Mr. DeCastro also stated that the Ports Authority Managing Director Mr. Claude O. Skelton-Cline would remember the names of the TPP from the negotiations and discussions that he had with them and noted that “the Managing Director was a person who would remember names easily.”

The member for the First District Honourable Andrew A. Fahie specifically enquired about whether the Managing Director Claude O. Skelton-Cline had been apart of the negotiating team or if he had carried out the instructions of the Board. To this Chairman DeCastro said that the Managing Director had been a part of the negotiating team.

Pay TPP before work was completed?

When asked about a resolution by the Ports Board to pay TPP although their work was incomplete, Mr. DeCastro told the PAC the resolution had been passed before his time.

When asked what was a $1.7 Million fee billed and paid [final payment recently] to TPP the Chairman of the Ports Board Mr. DeCastro reported that this money was for the preparation of the architectural drawings and other preparations.

The Chairman also testified that the TPP had a contract with the Ports and promised to provide a copy to the PAC. When asked by the Auditor General Ms. Webster an advisor to the PAC which aspect of the TPP work will be used on the project Mr. DeCastro said the TPP’s work will be used to implement the Cruise Pier Project.

However, it remains unclear whether or not the recently signed contracts between the Government of the Virgin Islands for $30.7 Million with IDL Projects Inc./Meridian Constructions Company Ltd., for the first phase of the Ports Development Project will be using the $1.7 Million drawings.

Double paying for work done already?

Another red flag that was raised in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting was the fact that another company CH2M Hill had already did detailed drawings for the Ports Development Project. This work was also confirmed by the Auditor General Ms. Webster.

In response the Chairman of the Board Mr. DeCastro told the House of Assembly Special Committee that the $1.7 Million paid to TPP he had gathered had been “for more detailed matters.”

Mr. DeCastro further told the PAC that the $1.7 Million was for the development of the Cruise Pier dock and included the detailed drawings etc., which could be used for the completion of the dock. When asked if payments were made on the $1.7 Million drawings the Ports Chairman stated payments had been made.

It was also unearthed in the Committee’s report that TPP was not working with any specific cruise lines but was willing to work with anyone. While also telling the committee the $1.7 Million plans were more detailed Mr. DeCastro still told the committee the plans were incomplete.

Therefore, after allegedly paying $1.7 Million for incomplete plans the Chairman stated that both the new contractor or successful tender and the ports will be using the plans for the expansion of the dock.

33 Responses to “TPP raked in $1.7 Million in fees on Ports Project - Ed DeCastro”

How many plans do we have to pay for? There are so many wrong things about this. Who will decide on the final design of the shopping mall and are they trying to copy Haven Site, or Jamaica or St marten etc? The current drawings show a closed contained street of non-descript big buildings built to fulfill a preconceived fantasy for the new visitor. St Thomas was lucky they had their historical ware houses. BVI is creating a new "identity" but is it accurate? This area is looking to be exclusive, not a part of Road Town accessible by everyone. And again, the acting director/ negotiator was just a plant to move this ill-conceived project forward.

Everytime I read these story pertaining to the port project I come to the conclusion that these people are very bear faceted they have no shame and to add insult to injury they have the nerve to be playing excerpts everyday from the HOA meeting. Goodness gracious me, these guys need to make a jail

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